Meter-adapter



J. SACHS.

METER ADAPTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27. 1915.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I I'IVE'H for fiseph Sachs.

Wifnesses 6 m.

J. SACHS.

METER ADAPTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21. 1915.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2- [/7 van for Jbseph ,Sachq.

A 7 fur/15g ff W.

J. SACHS.

METER ADAPTER.

APPLICATION FILED 1uLY27. 191s.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Q in GEM I 17VE/7 fur Jbseph Sachs.

AHUrr/E S E E W W 1. SACHS. METER ADAPTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27. 1915- 1,1 94,881. Patented Aug. 15, 1916. N 5SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I. N 1' L111 til I 1-1 T nx J Wifnesses I FIVE/*7 fur Jbsephfiachs.

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Affarneg J. SACHS.

METER ADAPTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1915.

1, 1 94,881 Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

W/fnesses 0 mm. 1? W I 17VE/7 fur Jbseph Sachs.

A f farneg JOSEPH SACHS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

METER-ADAPTER.

Application filed July 27, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH SACHS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMeter-Adapters, of which the following is a specification.

I and Fig. 6 is an This invention relates to meter-adapters, the objectof the invention being to provide an article of this character which isadapted to inclose or house the meter and at the same time effectuallyprotect the wires leading thereto and without in any manner preventingreading of the meter at any time, the organization being such that theadapter is locked in position against'surreptitious mwhich seal themoval by the same means meter. 1

In the drawings accompanying and forming part'of the presentspecification I have represented in detail several of the differentforms of embodiment of the invention which I will set forth in detail inthe following description. I do not restrict myself to this particulardisclosure; '1. may depart therefrom in several respects within thescope of the invention defined by the claims following said description.

Referring to said drawings: Figure'l is a front elevation of ameter-installation provided with a meter-adapter involving my inventionand sealed in place, the intermediate portion of the box represented insaid view, being broken away and the ends of the box being broughttogether. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and Fig. 3 a top end elevationview of the same. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the adapter stripped ofeverything else and shown interlocked with the box appearing in Figs. 1,2 and 3, the cover of the box being removed. Fig. 5 is a side elevation,end elevation of the mgter sealing strap. tion ontlie line 8-8 of afront elevation of the cover portion of a modified form of adapter. Fig.10 IS a sim lar view of the frame portion of said modified form ofadapter, a part of the box showing and the cover of the latter beingremoved. Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of said frame portion. Fig. 12 isa side elevation of the lower part of the cover member. Fig. 13 isSpecification of Letters Patent.

' in position.

partly broken away adapter and obtaining security.

Serial No. 42,218.

a transverse section on the line 13-13 of Fig. 10, the cover member,however, being Fig. 14: is a view of the sealing strap associated withthe cover member of Fig. 9. Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are views correspondingwith Figs. 1, 2 and 3 respectively of a still further construction. Fig.18 is Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

a front view of the covermember employed 1 in connection with theadapter illustrated in Figs. 15 to 17 inclusive. Fig. 19 is a view ofthe frame member mounted on the box, the cover member being removed.Fig. 20 is a bottom plan view of said frame member.

Fig. 21 is a view of a sealing cap member, and in section. Fig. 22 is aside elevation of the lower part of the cover member illustrated in Fig.18, and Fig. 23 is a longitudinal section on the line 23-23 of Fig. 19,looking in the direction of the arrow, the cover member, however, beingin position.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

I have shown only three of the many different forms of embodiment of theinvention. In these as in others, there is a casing or housing which canbe considered as the meter adapter proper. This casing or housingreceives entirely within it or wholly incloses the meter, there beingprovision for reading the meter for example by forming in the casing orhousing an opening or where the casing or housing such opening in thecap. This casing or housing also incloses the wireswhich lead to themeter and which may extend from a box in operative relation with themeter. This box may contain one or more electrical appliances, one ofwhich may be a switch. The wires, therefore, extend from this box to themeter and are inclosed and thus protected by the casing-or housing inquestion. There may be instances where the box is not present but whereit is, I prefer to interlock I the adapter or casing or housingwith thebox or its equivalent thus positioning the The adapter is efiectuallysealed in place by the same seal ordinarily provided for sealing themeter cover. That is the means which seal the meter also seal the meteradapter or casing or housing. of simple or compound construction as willhereinafter appear. For illustration one form of it may consistinerelyof a shell, an-

has a cap by forming This casing or housing may be other may comprise aframe or body and a cover member, while a third may be like the first orsecond and be equipped with a cap. Thesealing means may cooperatedirectly or through the medium of a sealing strap or yoke with thecasing or housing, while in struction.

' type or character of the meter 3 does not concern the invention. Thebox and'the meter may, as will be inferred, be of any construction, andthere may in fact be cases where the box 2 is not present, as theprimary purpose of the adapter is to inclose the conductors leading tothe meter, or from it'for that matter, to protect such conductors and tothwart tampering with the meter especially where the wires or conductorsjoin therewith. When the box 2 is present, .it presents a convenientsupport for the adapter, and Iprefer also to interlock the adapter withthe body of the box for the reason already noted. The adapter shown inthe views last mentioned is denoted in a general way by 4 and comprisesparallel sides 5, front 6 and top 7, being made of suitable materialsuch as sheet metal and of a size to freely receive the meter 3. Theadapter, casing or housing 4 has in the form represented, no bottom,being open at its lower end to thus provide freely for the passage ofwires from the box 2 to the meter. In the present case the open bottomof the adapter, casing or housing-4 is closed by the box 2 which has an.opening in its top through which the wiresin question extend. As willbe inferred, I have used the terms top and bottom merely for con-,venience as this is the way they appear on the drawings. The arrangementmight be inverted or the parts might stand horizontally or they mightbevertical and be horizontally alined, the point being that preferablythe adapter closed and the opposite open. In what I have termed thefront 6 there is an opening 8 and a portion of the meter 3 extendsthrough this opening as represented in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The projectingpart of the meter is that which in the type shown is furnished with theindicating means. The adapter 4 as shown is provided with an outwardlyextending wing 9 suitably fastened thereto. This wing has between itsends the bracket 10 fastened within the adapter and to the front 6thereof, for instance, by one or more rivets 11. The box 2 the box 2 andmeter forations of the nuts 22,

should have one end which extend therefrom and which are connected withthe meter 3. At opposite sides of the opening 12 are guideways or slideways 13 into which the wing 9 can he slid as shown in Figs. 4 and 8 forinstance. After adapter 4 may be positioned .as follows: T'hecover 14 ofthe box 2 will be opened after .Which'the wing 9 will he slid into theguideways l8 and the adapter, casing or housing 4 will then be fittedagainst the support to which thebox 2 and meter 3 are connected.Following this the cover 4: will be closed and then sealed by thecustomary sealing means denoted in a general way by 15. At this time apart of the meter 3 will project through the opening in the adapter 4.The front 6 at opposite sides of the opening 8 has keyways, shown aselongated slots 16 in parallelism with each other and these are adaptedto receive the keys or ter minal portions 17 of the legs of the bail oryoke-like strap 18 which reduced or terminal portions 17 aftertheadapter is posi- .tioned, are inserted into the slot 16, the

transverse .portion of the strap extending across the face or projectingportion of the meter 3. In the transverse part of the strap 18 areperforations or holes 19 which are located to receive the sealing screws20 constitutinga part of the regular equipment of standard meters. Thestrap 18 is sufficiently resilient to insure the accurate insertion ofits terminal 17 in the slots 16 and to bring the shoulders 21 solidagainst the outer face of the front 6. This positioning of the strapcauses the projection of the screws 20 through the two perforations 19.After the strap 18 has been positioned and the screws 20 extendedthrough the perforations 19, the nuts 22 will be applied to therespective screws and turned until they practically abut against thetransverse portion of the strap. en this is accomplished the wire 23will be passed through the usual perthe ends brought together and.sealed as by the seal 24. I have described a familiar type of sealingmeans; anyother will answer the purpose as well.

In Figs. 9 to 13 I show a modified form of adapter. This adapter likethe one already described is in the form of a casing or housing, but itis of compound construction comprising a frame member or portion 25 anda cover portion 26. the cover portion being adapted for interlockingconnection with the box 2 or its equivalent and the frame portion havinga wire-way 30 for the conductors from the box to the meter as willhereinafter more particularly appear. This adapter, casing or body maylike the other, vary in shape, the invention not concerning anyparticular form. As shown it is also 3 are mounted, the

practically rectangular. The frame portion 25 may be made up of strapmetal in one piece bent to the desired outline and the ends of which maybe welded, riveted or otherwise suitably connected together. The covermember 26 in outline is like the adapter shown in the form alreadydescribed,

although it is shallower, being intended merely to slightly overlap theouter part of the frame portion 25. The cover member, therefore,comprises a front, top and sides but is open at the bottom. Fasten'ed byriveting or otherwise to the sides of the frame portion 25 interiorlythereof are attaching lugs as 27 perforated to receive screws or otherfastenings by which the frame portion can be fastened to the supportwhich carries the meter inclosed in said frame portion which I mightnote is mounted so as to abut and be held against the body of the box28. In the front of the cover member 26 is an opening 29 and throughthis opening a part ofthe meter can project or that part provided withthe indicator or the indicating part of the meter may be wholly back ofthe front of the cover member 26 in which event the opening 29 need beonly of suflicient size and solocated with relation to the indicatingdial to provide for the reading of the meter at any time. In the bottomof the frame portion or member 25 is an opening 30 which provides forthe passage of wires from the box 28 to the meter inclosed in theadapter. The cover member or portion 26 has a wing 31 connected as bythe flange 32 with the cover member interiorly thereof by riveting or inany other suitable manner. After the frame portion or member 25 has beenpositioned, the meter being within it and the frame member resting onthe box 28, the wires will be connected up and passed through theopening 30 to the meter, the cover of the box 28 being open at thistime. In the top of the box is an opening 33 through. which these wiresextend and at opposite sides of the opening .are parallel slideways 34.After the frame member 25 has been mounted and the wires run from. thebox to the meter, the wing 31 will be slid along the guideways 34 andfitted over the frame member 25, subsequent to which the cover of thebox 28 can be closed and sealed as already set forth. When this is donethe strap or sealing member 35 exactly like the strap or sealing memberalready described will be applied and then sealed. The opening 30 is atthe rear of the lower wall 01; side being notched as at 36 to receivethe flange 32. It will be understood that the strap 35 is exactly likethe strap 18 and is sealed in place by the meter sealing means and thatthe cover member 26 has slots as 37 to receive the terminals of thestrap 35.

Referring now to Figs. 15 to 23 inclusive.

The meter adapter shown mounted in Figs, 15, 16 and 17 is denoted in ageneral way by 40 and as in the case of theother adapters incloses themeter 41. This meter adapter 40 comprises a frame portion or member 42and a cover member 43. The frame member 42 in shape is like that alreadydescribed. Its lower wall or side is slotted or has an opening 45, thebridgepiece 46 crossing the slot 45 which as will be understood extendsentirely across said lower wall. This bridge piece 46 is fastened withinthe frame member in some suitable way as by riveting. It has cut andbent from it the outwardly extending tongues 47 adapted to enter theslideways or guideways 48 at opposite sides of the wire opening 49 inthe top of the body of the box 50. This frame member 42 is mountedexactly like the frame member 25 and after it is positioned the covermember 43 will be applied and the interlocking wing 51 of said covermember 43 will be introduced into the guideways 48* This cover member 43has an opening 52, but has no strap receiving slots or equivalents. The

indicating portion of the meter extends through the opening 52. Afterthe cover member 43 has been properly located and interlocked with thebody of the box the cap or sealing member 53 will be fitted. against theouter face of the front of the cover member and will receive within'itthe projecting portion of the meter. The cap member 53 has an opening 54through which the indicating portion of the meter can be seen. The capmember may, as will be understood, be of any suitable shape. That shownis approximately of frusto-conical form. In its top are perforations orholes 55 to receive the sealing screw studs of the meter and after thesesealing screw studs have been passed through said holes or perforations55 the nuts 56 will be applied to the screw studs and turned until theyabut against the top of the cap member or practically so, thus clampingthe cap member 53 against the cover member 43. When this isaccomplished, the wire 57 will be passed through the perforations of thesealing nuts, the ends brought together and sealed as by the seal '58.When the seal 58 is applied it acts, therefore, not only to seal themeter but to seal the adapter, and this is accomplished by means of thecap member 53 being held in place between the nuts 56 and the covermember 43, thus subserving the same function 'as is accomplished by theadapter of my invention is to serve its meter protective purpose withouthaving associated therewith a scalable box from which the wires may beextended to and pass into the adapter casing, the opening through whichthe wires pass into and from the adapter casing will in such instancesbe of a suitable shape and size for the connection of the proper wirecarrying pipes or conduits' of the meter beyond or above the face orfront of the casing and'to provide correspondingly sized sealing strapsor caps.

What I claim is:

l. A meter adapter for use in connection with meter installations, inthe form of a casing for receiving the meter and means for directlysealing the meter, said sealing means also sealing the adapter.

2. A meter adapter for use in connection with meter installations, inthe form of a casing for receiving a meter, and means for sealing thecover of the meter against removal, said sealing means also sealing theadapter.

3. A meter adapter for use in connection with meter installations, toreceive the meter and means for sealing the meter, the meter sealingmeans also holding the-adapter to its. support in protective relation tothe meter.

1. A meter adapter for use in connection with meter installations, inthe form of a casing for receiving the meter and having means wherebythe meter sealing means can seal the casing and the latter having meansfor interlocking connection with a box constituting a part of suchinstallation.

5. A meter adapter for use in connection with meter installations, inthe form of a casing for receiving the meter and having means wherebythe meter sealing means can seal the casing, the latter having a wing tointerlock with a box constituting a part of said installation. 7

6. A meter adapter for use in connection with meter installations, inthe form of a casing having a front, sides and one end, the other end ofthe casing being open and means for directly sealing a meter, said metersealing means also sealing the adapter.

7 A meter adapter for use in connection with meter installations, in theform of a casing comprising a frame member anda cover member for theframe member, the

. casing being adapted to inclose the meter,

and the cover member having means for interlocln'ng connection with abox constituting part of the meter installation; 8. A meter adapter foruse in connection with meter installations, in the form of a casingcomprising a frame member and a cover member for the frame member, thecasing being adapted to inclose the meter and the cover member havingmeans for interlocking connection with a box constirtuting part of themeter installation, and means for sealing the meter and the casing. 9. Ameter adapter to receive a meter, and a strap to extend across themeter, connected with the adapter and in sealed connection with themeter, whereby the strap will hold the meter adapter in place when themeter is sealed.

10. A meter adapter for use in connection with meter installations, inthe form of a casing for receiving the meter, having slots,

' 1 a strap to extend into said slots, and means for sealing thestrap tothe meter.

11. A meter adapter for use in connection with meter installations, inthe form of a casing for receiving the meter, and a sealing memberconnectible with the casing, and meter sealing means for sealing thesealing member. F 12. A meter adapter to receive a meter, a member 'tobridge the exposed portion of the meter and terminally connected withthe adapter, and means for sealing said bridging member to the meterwhen the latter is in operative relation.

13. A meter adapter to receive a portion of a meter for protectivepurposes,.a bridging member crossing that part of the meter outside ofthe adapter, andmeans whereby said bridging member is sealed by the samemeans that seal the meter.

14. A meter adapter comprising a casing into which a member bridgingacross the meter and in sealed connection with the adapter.

15. A meter adapter comprising a protective casing for inclosing aportion of 'a meter, and means interlocking said meter part of the meterprojects, a"

and adapter casing and holding the same the casing in its protectiverelation to the meter by the same means that seals the meter.

17. A meter adapter casing provided with means for its connection to abox and adapted to receive a part of a meter for protective purposes,and a sealing element in the form of a bar passing across the face ofthe meter and adapted to hold' said adapter in protective cooperativerelation by the same sealing means that seal the 10 with said meter bythe same sealing means meter.

that seal the meter. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature 18. Ameter adapter casing adapted to rein presence of two Witnesses.

" ceive a part of a meter for protective pur- JOSEPH SACHS poses, and asealingelement in the form of a bar passing across the face of the meterWitnesses:

and adapter to hold said adapter in pro- L. L. MARKEL, 1

tective cooperative relation with said meter HEATH SUTHEBLAND,

